Scorpions at the Weymouth Dinghy Regatta

by Rachael Rhodes 11 Jul 2022 01:05 PDT 9-10 July 2022

Scorpions at the Weymouth Dinghy Regatta © Nick Lightbody

With the promise of sun, sea and sand, 27 intrepid Scorpions headed for Castle Cove Sailing Club, and the annual Weymouth Dinghy Regatta.

After a brief postponement and a change of Sailing Instructions on Saturday morning, the sea breeze kicked in right on cue. With 4 races planned, the fleet headed out into the harbour...

Race one saw close racing throughout the fleet. Tom Gillard and Rachael Gray (fresh from Salcombe week) took the lead with the battle for second place being fought out just behind them. As Adrian Smith and Rob Smith had a little tacking battle towards with line with Pete Gray and Debi Gibson, Sandra Smith and Jeni Richards pipped them all and took second on the pin end of the line.

Race 2 saw Gillard/Gray and Alan Krailing and Simon Forbes battle it out, with Sam Watson and Andy 'Shandy' Thompson hot on their heels. Gillard/Gray took the win, Krailing/Forbes 2nd, Watson/Shandy 3rd and Nigel Potter and Amy Clay posting a solid 4th.

Race 3 and more close racing ensued, again Gillard/Gray took the win with Krailing/Forbes in second and Gray/Gibson in 3rd. The racing was so close between the top 7 boats, that Watson/Shandy and AJ Eaton and Chris Eaton were tied on the line and split the points for 6th/7th.

The fleet were let off the hook, with race 4 being reverted back to its original Sunday slot. It was time for beer, burgers and for some, a highly competitive game of crazy golf.

Sunday dawned and with light winds forecast and a number of hangovers around the dinghy park, many hoped that Sunday was going to be a beach day. But the race officer was keen, and the fleet launched on time. Following a brief postponement on the water the fleet got 2 races in.

Race 4 was led from start to almost the finish by Gray/Gibson with Gillard/Gray taking the win in the final meters into the finish line. Krailing/Forbes were not far behind in 3rd.

Race 5 and the wind was getting lighter... Gray/Gibson again lead the fleet around the windward mark, but with Krailing/Forbes and Gillard/Gray in hot pursuit. Final result Krailing/Forbes took 1st, Gray/Gibson 2nd and Gillard/Gray 3rd.

As the wind was dropping, the race officer decided an afternoon on the beach was a best bet and race 6 was abandoned.

Final results saw Gillard/Gray take the overall win, Krailing/Forbes in 2nd and Gray/Gibson 3rd. A quick pack up done, time to soak up the sun on Castle Coves balcony and enjoy the prize-giving. Rachael Gray thanked the race team, galley and all club helpers on behalf of the fleet, as well as Tom, her helm, for his world class abilities both on the water and in the bar.

The countdown to the Nationals at Looe is now on...

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Crew	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	Pts
1	2013	Tom Gillard	Rachael Gray	1	1	1	1	‑3	4
2	2051	Alan Krailing	Simon Forbes	‑14	2	2	3	1	8
3	2045	Peter Gray	Debbie Gibson	4	‑7	3	2	2	11
4	1986	Sam Watson	Andy Thompson	5	3	6.5	4	‑7	18.5
5	2024	Sandra Smith	Jeni Richards	2	13	‑18	6	4	25
6	1939	Adrian Smith	Rob Smith	3	‑12	5	7	11	26
7	2014	AJ Eaton	Chris Eaton	9	8	6.5	5	‑18	28.5
8	1962	Thomas Lonsdale	Emily Cole Evans	‑13	5	9	12	6	32
9	1943	John Mursell	Matthew Palmer	11	‑14	10	8	5	34
10	1958	Nigel Potter	Amy Clay	7	4	4	‑22	21	36
11	2004	Jock Fellows	Andrea Fellows	6	‑15	12	11	8	37
12	2005	Janet Ritchie	Alan Ritchie	8	6	14	13	(DNC)	41
13	1929	Graeme Bristow	Nick Lightbody	10	11	8	‑16	13	42
14	2023	Richard Searle	Lucy Searle	12	10	‑15	10	10	42
15	2044	Steve Walker	Jerry Hannabuss	‑17	9	16	17	9	51
16	1951	Fiona Taylor	Gordon Taylor	15	‑17.5	17	15	12	59
17	2002	Chloe Willars	John Tailby	16	17.5	11	‑23	20	64.5
18	2021	Andrew Hayman	Richard Gatehouse	22	‑25	25	9	17	73
19	2001	Malcolm James	Monty Hampton	19	‑22	21	14	19	73
20	1988	Russell Wheeler	Alison Shedrick	21	16	20	‑24	16	73
21	1981	Dave Elston	NIGEL Hufton	23	19	13	20	‑24	75
22	2017	Jon willars	Nicola Willars	‑25	20	23	18	14	75
23	1959	Lawrence Creaser	Maciej Matyjaszczuk	20	23	‑24	21	15	79
24	2048	Chris Yates	Dave Barker	18	21	19	(DNC)	DNC	90
25	1991	David Bennett	Martyn Touy Smith	24	24	22	‑26	25	95
26	1920	Cillian Dyne	Phillip Dyne	‑27	27	27	19	23	96
27	2011	Clive Gimson	Paul McHenry	‑26	26	26	25	22	99